Tai-Pan

It's 1842 and a battle is raging between imperialist England and the port city of Hong Kong. British merchants regularly buy opium from Chinese merchants and sell it back to them at higher prices, which enrages the locals. The powerful British forces quickly quell a Chinese uprising and take over the city, inspiring the ambitious Dirk Struan (Bryan Brown) to become its leader. Dirk finds himself pitted opposite the unscrupulous Tyler Brock (John Stanton) in his quest to rule Hong Kong.